INDEPENDENCE
The Town of Independence will host its annual Fourth of July celebration with a full day of activities Monday, July 4.
Crafts, food and drink vendors will open 9 a.m. Monday at the McKnight Lot, located at the intersection of U.S. 58/21 and the Historic 1908 Courthouse.
The parade, usually about an hour long, begins at 10 a.m.
Children’s activities include an inflatable Space Walk.
A watermelon eating contest at the McKnight lot for ages 5 and up begins at 2 p.m. Saturday. Cash prizes will be awarded.
Upland Express will perform beginning 7 p.m. at Grayson County High School practice field with fireworks to follow at 10 p.m. Bring a blanket, a lawn chair and snacks.
Activities are sponsored by Grayson National Bank, Walters Drug and the Town of Independence.
To stay up-to-date on the Town of Independence’s annual and special events, residents and visitors can visit www.independenceva.com.
Many of the events in Independence are coordinated by the Town of Independence Special Events Committee, a town sanctioned volunteer group that works with other local organizations including the Historic 1908 Courthouse Foundation, Grayson LandCare and the Twin County Chamber of Commerce, to bring festivals and events to Independence.
For more information, call (276) 773-3507, (276) 773-3703 or see the website, www.independenceva.com.
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The Comers Rock Community Club’s Theater Group will participate in Fourth of July activities in Independence this year, with two performances of its popular “Virgil’s Family Reunion” at the Historic 1908 Courthouse’s Baldwin Auditorium on July 4.
The club will have a float featuring members and characters from the play. Other cast members will follow the float and perform various scenes from the comedy.
Mama and Papa Hooper will be riding a tractor, for example.
Mama and Papa Sludge will be on a four-wheeler — at least what’s left of it. Papa Sludge blew up the ATV in a fire last year, not to mention that Papa Hooper singed all the the hair off his head.
Watch out for Grandma, who’s just plain mad that she doesn’t get to ride the four-wheeler. She’ll get over her pouting soon, though, when Mr. Perky proposes to her. There might be another proposal, as well, as Ellard struggles to find the right words to ask Bertha Mae to marry him. With Virgil’s help, surely Ellard can’t go wrong — or can he?
Poor Mama Sludge might never get the family reunion organized because Harley Wayne went and got himself arrested.
Children of the group will be spotted throughout the day in Independence advertising the play.
Performances are scheduled at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Monday. Tickets are available at the door for $10.
Virgil’s Family Reunion was sold out twice in Comers Rock when the club presented it last time.
For more information, call (276) 655-4744.

GALAX
The July Fourth events in Galax, sponsored by the Galax Volunteer Fire Department, will be held July 4 through 9 and will include the Galax fireman’s carnival, with Michael’s Amusements.
The week starts with the Fourth of July parade in downtown Galax at 4 p.m. Follow the parade into the park for WBRF/WWWJ Night, in which a $10 gate admission gets carnival-goers unlimited free rides, a free rock concert and fireworks at 11 p.m.
“Rockin’ the Park” concert, featuring KISS tribute band Alive, will begin at 7 p.m. that night. Other bands include Syde Effect, Cottonmouth Xpress, Monstrock and Cult of Dionysus.
On July 5-7, carnival-goers can ride all night for $15, with a free $5 coupon from area merchants.
The Independent Mower Racing Association will hold the mower races on July 8 and 9. All mowers and drivers are welcome. Gates open at 5 p.m. with racing beginning at 6 p.m. Cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children.
July 9 is Wells Fargo Family Day, with unlimited free rides with a $10 gate admission from noon-5 p.m.
There will be a $300 cash drawing at 11 p.m. each night with a paid adult gate ticket.
No alcohol or dogs are allowed in the park.

HILLSVILLE
Historic Hillsville’s Fourth of July Celebration Committee has chosen the theme “Love Our Freedoms” to guide the parade entries and overall activities.
Parade awards will be given in the categories of most patriotic, most original and best in show. A $100 cash prize and certificate will be awarded for first place.
The parade begins at 4 p.m. Lineup starts at 3 p.m. on Edgewood Drive. Floats must be in line by 3:15 in order to be judged.
After the parade there will be food, music and children’s games at 5 p.m. at the VFW post on West Stuart Drive.
Signup is at 6:15 p.m. for a horseshoe contest at the VFW.
Beach music by Showtime begins outside the VFW at 6:30.
The Hillsville fireworks extravaganza starts around 9:30 p.m.
For information or to register for the parade, contact (276) 728-2128 or hillsville@embarqmail.com.
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The Carter Home Foundation in Hillsville is sponsoring a Victorian Tea and Hat contest at noon July 4 at the Carter Home.
Women are encouraged to wear long dresses of any time period, although this is not a requirement to participate in the hat contest.
Hats will be judged for most beautiful, most patriotic and most original.

FRIES
The Town of Fries will host a Fourth of July celebration July 4 featuring a parade, music and fireworks.
Parade begins at noon. Parade line up begins at the mill site. Contact the Town Office at (276) 744-2231 or townoffries@embarqmail.com for more information or to participate.
Music at the Town Park begins at 7:30 p.m.
Jeff Whittington, “Brand New Opry” will perform in honor of Harry and Larry Boyles’ service to the town. For a sneak preview, visit the website www.jeffwhittington.com.
Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m.

MOUNT ROGERS
The Mount Rogers Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad of Whitetop will sponsor the annual July Fourth Parade and Fireworks Celebration on July 4.
The parade will begin at the Konnarock Community Center on Route 600, Whitetop Road, in Smyth County and travel down Konnarock Road to U.S. 58 in Washington County and into the Green Cove community and Whitetop back to U.S. 58 and will end at the Mount Rogers Fire Hall in Grayson County.
Traveling through portions of three mountainous counties, it’s unlikely for you to see marching bands, but there will be everything else including the firemen tossing out candy for the kids along the parade route.
The participants will begin lining up at the community center at 4 p.m. and the parade will start at 5 p.m.
Hot dogs and drinks will be available at the Fire Hall.
Attendees will be entertained by music until the fireworks show begins at dark.

LAMBSBURG
Lambsburg Community Center will host a variety of activities at 6 p.m. July 4, including music on the bandstand by Sounds Now and Then.
Food will be sold throughout the evening.
Patriotic music will be provided at 7:30 p.m., by Nathan Sharp and David Allred, along with a reading of excerpts from The Declaration of Independence, given by Phillip Berrier.
Fireworks begin at dusk.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
The center is a Twin County United Way Agency and is supported by the Carroll County Board of Supervisors. For information call (336) 648-2078 or see www.lambsburgcommunitycenter.org.

FLAT RIDGE
Flat Ridge Community Center, located in the Flat Ridge community of Troutdale, will host its annual Fourth of July celebration on July 2 beginning at 4 p.m.
Flat Ridge Opry performing: Beach music of the 60’s and Classic Country. Special guests include: Kayla Galyean (country) and True Grass (Bluegrass), as well as guest singer and song writer, Joyce Rouse.
Other attractions for this celebration include: Randall’s Antique Tractor display (others welcome) and Classic Car & Truck Cruz In (bring your classic and show it off).
Food available for purchase includes: hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, desserts, etc.
There will be a huge fireworks display at dark presented by the Hash family.
Everyone invited. Bring a lawn chair.

RUGBY
Rugby Rescue Squad and Fire Department will host a Fourth of July Celebration on July 4.
Festivities begin at 10 a.m. Parade begins at 2 p.m.
Freshly prepared food including barbecue sandwiches, hot dogs, desserts and ice cream will be served.

IVANHOE
Ivanhoe will hold its Independence Day parade on July 4 at 4 p.m. in the downtown area.
Participants are needed. For information, call 699-1166.